Banten Legislator Not Yet Clear Of Suspicion: KPK

Jakarta, Feb 11 (Antara) - The return of cars received by Banten regional legislators from a corruption suspect would not clear them from suspicion of being involved in money laundering, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said. KPK spokesman Johan Budi referred to Banten legislator Media Warman surrendering a Honda CRV car, a gift from Tubagus Chaeri Wardana (Wawan) who has been charged by KPK with corruption and money laundering. On Monday, KPK summoned and questioned Warman of the ruling Democratic Party and two other fellow regional legislators Sonny Indra Djaja, also of the ruling party and Thoni Fathoni Mukson of the Nation Awakening Party as witnesses in the money laundering case with Wawan as the suspect. The three were implicated in the money laundering case for receiving cars as a gift from Wawan, and Warman had returned the car via KPK investigators who then confiscated it. Earlier KPK already investigated Eddy Yus Amirsyah, another regional legislator of the Democratic Party as a witness in the same case. "The return of the cars certainly would not clear them from suspicion. The case is being investigated," KPK spokesman Johan Budi said. KPK, however, gave appreciation to Media Warman for returning the car, which is believed to be bought with ill gotten money, Johan said here on Monday. Wawan`s lawyer Maqdir Ismail said the cars were not a gift, but they were lent by Wawan to legislators. The cars belongs to Wawan and his company PT Bali Pacific Pragama, Maqdir said. He said he did not remember the number of persons `borrowing` cars from Wawan. "Not many, three or four," he said, adding the borrowers had no political motive such as to help Wawan win projects in Banten. Wawan, a brother of Banten Governor Ratu Atut Choisyah, who is also a graft suspect and already arrested by KPK , was charged with inflating the prices of a number of government projects, awarded to his companies. In Wawan case , KPK already confiscated 23 cars including a number of luxury cars such as Lexus RS 460 L Nissan GTR , Land Cruiser, Lamborgini Aventador , Bentley Continental, Ferrari and Rolls Royce Flying Spur and a brand new Harley Davidson . The Rolls Royce, Lamborgini, Bentley and Ferrari cars were found not in Wawan`s house but at a show room at Tanah Abang, Jakarta as the cars were bought from a leasing company and are not yet fully paid. Johan Budi said KPK had not yet finished tracking down the assets of Wawan believed to be part of the result of corruption. Wawan is also charged with bribery in the Lebak district election, corruption in the procurement of medical instruments and equipment for health centers in Tangerang Selatan in 2012 and for the procurement of health equipment for Banten. Based on data from the State Official Assets Report (LHKPN), Wawan`s wife Airin Rachmi Diany, who is the mayor of Tangerang Selatan had assets worth Rp103 billion by 24 August 2010 including luxury cars werth Rp22.1 billion.